A Cure for Cabin Fever

As I sit here looking out over the 6 inches of snow that fell last night, I found myself wishing I was out on my boat as I wonder if winter will ever leave.  Not being a fan of cold weather I have never embraced the ice fishing thing, opting instead of sitting by a warm fire.  Deer season is behind us and it just seems as if nature is dead.  I know however as in many years past, that mother nature will awake in all it's splendor in just a few short weeks.  So how do I survive until she decides to appear?

The answer is simple - Get Ready.  Get your guns cleaned and ready for spring turkey season. Get out and do a little rabbit hunting.   Get to the gun range and get some practice in.  

Photo Courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation.

If fishing is more your speed, get out your tackle box and empty it on the table.  Take stock in what you have to work with once the ice clears your favorite lake or river.  It's a great time to fix broken lures, throw stuff away, and make that list of restock items for your next trip to your favorite outdoors store.  It is also a great time to find out what that smell is in your box.... yikes.

I personally have been doing all the upgrades, repairs, and changes to my boat I didn't have time last year to complete.  The last thing you want to do when the fishing is hot, is to be at home working on your boat.  Get a heater, build a fire, or just bundle up and get out there in your shop or garage and take the time to maintain that boat so it is ready when you are - that first warm day this spring.  It is also a great time to take it to your favorite mechanic for a tune-up.  They aren't as busy now and you can usually get it in and out quickly - while you are watching it snow outside or watching fishing shows on TV.

Another great thing to do when you are stuck in the house is to plan a trip to a new lake or stream you have never been to before.  Maybe you are looking to go on a bow fishing some crystal clear water or take in a hog hunt in the southern part of the state.  In developing Missouri GreatOutdoors we have learned so much about some incredible areas of the state that we haven't visited either.  It made me realize how fortunate we are to live or visit this great state of Missouri (I pronounce "Misery" sometimes in the winter).   

There are so many places to explore, hike, hunt, fish, or just have a family outing here.  That's why we are so passionate about what we do at Missouri Great Outdoors.  We want to make it easy to plan trips to those far away places and take the guesswork out of the next trip or outing.  Explore an area through the site when the snow is too deep to get there.  

 Learn more about what Missouri has to offer.  It's easy to use, full of information all in one place, and it's free.  Once spring and summer finally gets here don't forget to take MissouriGreat Outdoors along on your smart phone to help navigate to your favorite spots and find new ones. 

It's another great way to get ready for spring - but it may make the cabin fever worse.